West Nile virus found in Exeter mosquito

EXETER — The Exeter Health Department is urging residents to take extra precautions after a mosquito trapped in the Hobart Street area tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Hobart Street is near the Brick Yard recreation fields in addition to the Brick Yard Pond on Kingston Road/Route 111. According to a press release issued by health officer Ken Berkenbush of the Exeter Health Department, parks in the area have been barrier sprayed to limit exposure to mosquitoes. However, personal precautions must be taken until the first killing frost of the season.

Some of these precautions include avoiding being outside during evening, night, and dawn hours, wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts, and using an effective repellent — such as one containing DEET. Repellents containing 30 percent or less DEET are recommended.

Symptoms of West Nile Virus include high fevers, headaches, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, body aches, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. These symptoms typically begin to develop between 3 to 14 days after an individual has been bitten by an infected mosquito.